Archive: January 2009
The travel industry has found a popular, lucrative new brand, a bright spot in a troubled economy. Even as President Obama works on plans to turnaround the struggling economy, destination marketers are building business by adding links on their websites to Obama tours and packages.
A Presidential Chicago tour is featured on choosechicago.com for visitors who want to “experience the city the Obamas enjoy.”
Hawaii’s official tourism site has a page dedicated to its native son, with [...] Read more
“There’s been a trend towards rising food and beverage minimums in terms of money spent as well as some hotels requiring higher numbers of people at functions,” says John S. Foster, Esq., CHME, an attorney whose Atlanta-based firm, Foster, Jensen & Gulley, LLC, specializes in the legal aspects of meetings and conventions. Before you sign anything, Foster advises looking at the language used in the following areas. If you’re not happy with it, negotiate.
Attrition: “Once [...] Read more
By Sarah Reiss
It’s the biggest hot button in travel today, but with the glut of information out there, ensuring you go green is easier said than done. Here are resources to help you sort out your options for planning eco-friendly group meetings and events.
Green travel reigns as the hottest topic in the industry. Whether you attribute the trend to viral do-gooding or widespread planetary guilt, there’s no denying that eco-travel has grabbed global attention and [...] Read more
Ideas for warming up your group before a meeting, project or team-building event.
An icebreaker serves as a warm-up for your group. Whether you are organizing a project-oriented event centered around problem-solving; a team-building event; or simply want to create a positive group atmosphere, icebreakers help people relax; break down social barriers; energize and motivate; and encourage people to think outside the box.
In a large meeting, the icebreaker can be a single question that gets people [...] Read more
What processes and changed consumer behavior now taking place online can you incorporate into your offline meetings business? Here are a number of keywords and phrases from Trendwatch.com defining the online world, ready to be projected on a white wall and used in your planning discussions. If you’re not using them yet or aren’t sure what they mean, do some research online and stay in front of your attendees.
Sharing
Constant, 24/7, always on
Keeping in [...] Read more
Ever wondered how to explain all that you do to your family and friends, or the board you report to?
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics devotes several pages on its website to what’s entailed in the job of meeting and convention planning—most of which you probably know, but it’s a good read and it also offers job outlooks and earnings projections.
The basic definition? “Meetings and conventions bring people together for a common [...] Read more
Complimentary beverages are returning to coach cabins on all US Airways and US Airways Express Flights March 1, 2009. Passengers will once again be offered free soda, juice, tea, water and coffee. Beer, wine and liquor will be sold for $7.
“US Airways was the only large network carrier to charge for dinks, and that put us at a disadvantage,” says Doug Parker, US Airways’ chairman and CEO.
Parker believes beverage charges distracted from the airline’s improvements [...] Read more
